NC State swimming & diving head coach Braden Holloway announced a nine-member signing class of eight freshmen and one transfer for the men’s swimming & diving program. The class is set to begin competing for the Wolfpack when the 2014-15 campaign gets underway in the fall.
“We’re extremely excited about this very strong recruiting class for the men,” Holloway said. “We set up our recruiting goals and we feel this class falls right into place with what we were trying to achieve. We feel all these men fit in to the Wolfpack program very well and each have a role to help us advance at the NCAA level and work towards an ACC title.“
The signing class is comprised of student-athletes that have found success on the state, national and international levels of competition. The group has been crowned state champions and high school All-Americans. In addition, the class has set records at the YMCA level and has competed in prestigious national and international events.
Colin Ellington and Noah Franz will stay close to home to join the Wolfpack. Ellington, who is the top-rated freshman in the state of North Carolina, captured titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle in the North Carolina State Championships. Meanwhile, Franz competed along with Ellington and had a successful career at the high school and YMCA levels.
The squad will also add several of the top incoming freshmen outside of North Carolina, as Ben Cono, Ryan Held and Hennessey Stuart will join the squad. Stuart won the prestigious Hoyt Brawner Award winner for the top swimmer/scholar in the state of Colorado, while Held captured the 50 and 100 free national championships this past season at the 2014 YMCA Short Course National Championships. Meanwhile, Cono was named to the 2014 Newsday All-Long Island Swim Team.
Anton Ipsen will become the third Danish-born swimmer on the roster, joining rising sophomores Andreas Schiellerup and Soren Dahl. In addition, Jacob Siar comes to NC State after two successful seasons competing for Auburn.
The Wolfpack also added two divers to the group, as North Carolina product Charles Mitchell and Krisztian Somhegyi will join the squad in the fall.
“Our staff worked very hard together to find the right individuals that put team first and these young men chose NC State for the right reasons and to be a part of something special and greater than themselves,” Holloway said.
Ben Cono (Smithtown, NY)
High School: Smithtown High School East
Club Team: Team Suffolk
Top Times: BR: 54.38, 1:59.78
Accolades: New York State Champion in the 100 breaststroke … Competed at the 2014 NCSA Junior National Championships … Named to the 2014 Newsday All-Long Island Swim Team … Rated the eighth-best prospect in the state of New York according to CollegeSwimming.com
Colin Ellington (Holly Springs, NC)
High School: Holly Springs High School
Club Team: YMCA of the Triangle Area Swim Team
Top Times: FR: 20.12, 44.49, 1:37.75
BR: 56.29
IM: 1:47.32
Accolades: Competed in the YMCA Short Course National Championships … Won the 50 and 100 freestyle events at the North Carolina State Championships for Holly Springs High School … Competed in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swim Trials … Rated as the top incoming freshman in the state of North Carolina and the 23rd overall.
Noah Franz (Raleigh, NC)
High School: Sanderson High School
Club Team: YMCA of the Triangle Area Swim Team
Top Times: FR: 21.37, 46.18, 1:39.10, 4:36.52
FLY: 50.56
Accolades: Competed in five events at the 2014 YMCA Short Course National Championships … Listed by CollegeSwimming.com as the No. 8 prospect in North Carolina.
Ryan Held (Springfield, IL)
High School: Sacred Heart Griffin
Club Team: Springfield YMCA (Illinois)
Top Times: FR: 19.52, 43.31, 1:36.85
BR: 55.40
FLY: 49.90
Accolades: Named Illinois Swimmer of the Year … Captured the 2014 YMCA Short Course National Championship with a 19.58 finals time in the 50 free … Also, finished with the meet record at the YMCA Short Course National Championships with a title in the 100 freestyle … Rated as the No. 2 incoming freshman in the state of Illinois and the 30th overall.
Anton Ipsen (Birkeroed, Denmark)
Club Team: Sigma Swim Birkerod
Top Times: FR: 1:37.32*, 4:16.29*, 14:54.88*
IM: 3:47.22*
*Times converted from SCM/LCM
Accolades: Competed in the 2013 European Short Course Championships … Qualified for the 2014 European Swimming Championships in Berlin … Rated as the 34th-best incoming freshman by CollegeSwimming.com.
Charles Mitchell (Davidson, NC)
High School: W.A. Hough
Club Team: Carolina Diving Academy
Diving
Accolades: Competed in the 2013 USA Diving Junior National Diving Championships … Finished 2nd in the state championships on the one-meter springboard for W.A. Hough High School.
Jacob Siar (Roanoke, VA)
Previous School: Auburn University
High School: Cave Spring
Top Times: FR: 1:39.85
BK: 48.25, 1:44.66
Accolades: Scored points for Auburn in each of his two years at Auburn at the SEC Championships in the 100 & 200 backstroke … Competed in 200-meter backstroke at 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha.
Krisztian Somhegyi (Gyal, Hungary)
Diving
Accolades: Competed in the European Junior Championships.
Hennessey Stuart (Denver, CO)
High School: Regis Jesuit High School
Club Team: Denver Swim Academy
Top Times: FR: 20.80, 44.10
BK: 46.91, 1:42.75
IM: 1:47.77
Accolades: Won the Colorado 5A State Championships in the 200 freestyle and the 200 IM, as well as the 100 backstroke … Named the Hoyt Brawner Award winner for the top swimmer/scholar in the state of Colorado … Ranked as the top-rated recruit from the state of Colorado and the 29th overall.
